DANGERS OF DEFORESTATION.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 823, 23 May 1910, Page 3

DANGERS OF DEFORESTATION.

Sir, —In your issue of May 16 there appears over the signature "Back-blocks a letter which is a good illustration of the ignorance that prevails among averago back-blocks settlers on tho question of deforestation. The letter reveals the true vandal typo of milid and one not amenable to argument or illustration. The writer is apparently unaware that the damage to property from the deforestation of steep hill-slopes m France, Spain, Italy, China, and the and in most countries in the Old World is estimated to rcach tens of millions of pounds in each; and that many foreign countries are now spending very large sums in reforestation and preservation, in order to make up for past neglect, Even hero in our own country any person not afflicted with myopia or an undeveloped intellect can see the daniago that has been done, and that is continuing to be done, by tho thoughtless destruction of the native bush on steep hillsides and along tho banks of rivers. A very good book, well illustrating this, was written about a year ago by Sir. Grossman, of Auckland; and, to educate the ignorant, 't would be a sensible thing "for the Government to buy a quantity of this book, and distribute them among country librarians. :i Tho reference by Back-blocks. to the Wanganui Kivcr is particularly untortunate, as there it is most important to protect the adjacent lull slopes, a.s tliej ore formed of a decomposed papa or sott sandstone, and are almost certain to slip into tho river when the bush is cut down; and one is safe in asserting that if tho bush be felled in such sites, 111 a few vcars the result will lie bare, rocky cliffs' or steep slopes on which nothing but scrub, fern, and weeds will grow, ancl feed perhaps one sheep to five acres. As regards "Back-blocks'" statement that scenic and forest. reserves • are a breeding ground for noxious weeds, 1 ai_ informed on authority that this is a cross exaggeration, and that there is only a small percentage of tho reserves that are affected by noxious weeds, and that the weeds have got on these through tho adjacent settlors' ncglect to keep them out of their own lands. It should bo superfluous to state that European : weeds will not grow in virgin native

bush; but they get established after settlers' stock have eaten out tho underYour correspondent's statement that all tho best lands and those most accessible to railways and roads are reserved lor scenic purposes is simply absurd, lor (excopting along the Main Trunk Ime, where the land is generally poor ana about 2000 feet above ssa level), it is generally only the broken country that is of scenic interest. Were Back-blocks living in London or Paris, I suppose lie would advocate the cutting-up for dairy farms of the Regent's Park and J-ardm des Plaptes. If h© lived in Sweden or Germany he would burn off their profitable State forests in order that sheep might bo depastured. v ' . On one point I find myself m agreement with "Back-blocks," and that is the absurd policy of locking up Maori lands till their valne has been enhanced perhaps cent, per cent, solely by the 'railways ami roads constructed by the whito population. On the question of aiForwtation, preservation of steep forest-clad hillsides (especially along streams used for navigation) and spots of scenic interest. Back-blocks," I am glad to say, will find tho journals of all parties and aIL educated opinion against him. In a few years hence these reserves will bo t the only specimens of a beautiful and unique flora, and they will bo the resorts of hundreds of pleasure-seekers, who will 'bless the foresight of those responsible for their preservation.—l am, etc., ABBOR.